This is our review of best cat food without Carrageenan
As a cat parent, one of the biggest responsibilities we have is to feed our furry friends, highly nutritious and safe food which will keep them healthy and happy.
But most pet food companies don’t have the same passion and concern for our cats and sometimes include questionable ingredients in the pet food.
There is a lot of discussion on Carrageenan being safe, but when it comes to my cat I side with caution rather than regret, that is why we have spent weeks researching the best cat food without Carrageenan.
Our number one recommendation is Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Cat Food which is totally free from any harmful or questionable ingredients.
The other options are pretty great too.
Always consult your vet before changing a cat’s food to ensure it is safe to do so.
Our Best Cat Food Without Carrageenan
- Best Overall – Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Cat Food
- Best For Picky Eaters – Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Wet Canned Cat Food
- Best For Sensitive Stomach – Hound & Gatos Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
- Best Budget – Sheba Perfect Portions Roasted Turkey
- Best For Kittens – Tiki Baby Cat
- Best Premium – Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Cat Food
6 Best Cat Food Without Carrageenan Reviewed
All cat foods in our list strictly meet the minimum AAFCO nutrition recommendations for cats and are absolutely 100% Carrageenan free. Always consult your vet before starting off your cat on a new food.
Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Sunflower Seed Oil, Calcium Lactate, Dicalcium Phosphate
- Guaranteed Analysis: 16% Crude Protein, 2.6% Crude Fat, 0% Crude Fiber, 80% Crude Moisture
- Carb Content: 0.338%
- Caloric Content: 63 kcal/2.8-oz can
- Type of Product: No Corn No Wheat No Soy, High-Protein, Gluten Free, Low Glycemic, Grain-Free, Pea-Free, Natural, Non-GMO
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Overall
Tiki is one of our favourite cat foods for cats mainly due to the fact that the protein in this recipe comes from a single meat source. This makes it easier to digest and doesn’t cause any sensitivities in cats.
Tikki’s wet food is very high in moisture with a moisture content of 80% which gives Exotic Shorthair adequate moisture for their daily needs.
The ash content is 1.6% max which is perfect if you are looking for low ash cat food for your cat to reduce the risk of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).
It doesn’t have any of the bad ingredients such Carrageenan, artificial preservatives and thickening agents such as xanthan gum and guar gum which are bad for cats.
It also has a low carbohydrate content of 0.338%, remember cats don’t require high carb content in their daily food.
Some picky eaters might not like this food.
What We Like:
- Single source of protein
- High Protein Content
- High Moisture Content
- Low Carb Content
- Low Ash Content
What We Didn’t Like:
- Taste not for all cats.
Instinct Original Grain-Free Wet Canned Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Venison, Pork Liver, Pork Broth, Ground Flaxseed, Montmorillonite Clay
- Guaranteed Analysis: 11% Crude Protein, 7% Crude Fat, 3% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 1%
- Caloric Content: 199 kcal/5.5 oz can, 109 kcal/3 oz can
- Type of Product: High-Protein, Grain-Free, Gluten Free, No Corn No Wheat No Soy, Natural
- Lifestage: Adult
- Best For: Picky Eaters
There is no better option than Instinct Original Wet cat food if you are looking for high quality Carrageenan free cat food.
With high quality protein sources from real meat such as Venison and Protein Broth, this recipe packs a real high protein punch fulfilling all your cat’s protein needs.
The carb content is 1% which is one of the best we have seen for a low carb diet.
Additionally it is free from artificial ingredients and grains making it perfect for cats with sensitivities and IBD.
Instinct is one of the pricier options in our list and can be considered a premium ingredient option without any harmful ingredients.
What We Like:
- Simple ingredients
- Loved by Cats
- Carrageenan Free
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not much we didn’t like
Hound & Gatos 98% Chicken & Liver Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Calcium Carbonate, Agar-Agar
- Guaranteed Analysis: 10% Crude Protein, 9% Crude Fat, 1% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 1%
- Caloric Content: 201 kcal/5.5 oz can
- Type of Product: No Corn No Wheat No Soy, Grain-Free, Gluten Free, Pea-Free, High-Protein, Limited Ingredient Diet, Natural, Premium
- Lifestage: Adult
- Best For: Sensitive Stomach
Hound & Gatos incorporates so many novel protein sources in their food, it truly is amazing. I don’t think the range of novel proteins like rabbit, duck etc can be found anywhere else.
It is perfect for cats with sensitive proteins because you can find protein sources which do not cause stomach sensitivity and also have low ash content.
The protein comes from real animal meat and is of the highest quality.
What We Like:
- Simple ingredients
- Available in variety of flavours
- Low Carb Content
- Carrageenan Free
What We Didn’t Like:
- Customers complain about varied quality in different batches
Sheba Perfect Portions Roasted Turkey
- First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, Chicken, Poultry Liver, Water, Poultry Broth
- Guaranteed Analysis: 9% Crude Protein, 5% Crude Fat, 1.5% Crude Fiber, 80% Moisture
- Estimated Carbohydrate: 0.71%
- Caloric Content: 45 kcal/serving
- Type of Product: No Corn No Wheat No Soy, Grain-Free, Pea-Free
- Lifestage: Adult
- Best For: Budget
This wet food contains high quality protein from real meat sources. This recipe is high in protein, moderate fat content and low carbs along with other macronutrients such as Tuarine, minerals and fish oils providing complete nutrition to your cat.
Sheba Perfect Portions are grain free and free from any hard to digest ingredients making it much easier for cats to digest this food without causing any digestive issues.
Sheba perfect portions are completely free of Carrageenan and other harmful ingredients that can cause health issues in your cat.
Customers also love the fact that their cats absolutely love this food and will eat it happily.
What We Like:
- Soft texture food that is easy to eat
- Has real proteins as the first ingredient
- Free of grain and artificial ingredients such as preservatives and colouring
- Provides complete nutrition
- Comes in a number of flavours
- Carrageenan Free
What We Don’t Like:
- Some customers complain of the mess
Tiki Baby Cat
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Sunflower Seed Oil, Chicken Liver, Salmon
- Guaranteed Analysis: 15% Crude Protein, 5.5% Crude Fat, 2% Crude Fiber, 76% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 76 kcal/can
- Type of Product: Grain-Free, High-Protein, Gluten Free
- Lifestage: Kitten
- Best For: Kittens
If you are looking for a high quality no nonsense food for your kitten look no further than Tiki Baby Cat. Tiki is one of our favourite cat food brands that always puts the health of pets first by using high quality ingredients in their food.
This specially formulated kitten food is very high protein content and moderate fat content which is perfect for a growing kitten to fulfil all their nutritional needs.
Free of Carrageenan and other harmful ingredients, you can be sure that you are feeding your kitten the safest and healthiest food.
What We Like:
- High Quality Protein
- High Protein Content
- High Moisture Content
What We Didn’t Like:
- Nothing much
Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Lamb, Water Sufficient for Processing, Lamb Lung, Lamb Kidney, Lamb Liver
- Guaranteed Analysis: 9.5% Crude Protein, 6% Crude Fat, 2% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 113 kcal/3-oz can, 245 kcal/6.5-oz can
- Type of Product: Grain-Free, No Corn No Wheat No Soy, Limited Ingredient Diet, Non-GMO, High-Protein, Pea-Free, Natural, Premium
- Lifestage: Adult
- Best For: Premium
This Ziwi Peak formula uses a single source of protein and that too the novel lamb which will suit even the most sensitive cats.
Made with limited wholesome ingredients, this recipe is absolutely free of Carrageenan and other harmful thickeners, so you can rest easy that you are not giving your cat anything bad.
Customers also rave about how much their cat’s love this formula.
What We Like:
- Single Source of Protein
- Limited Ingredients
- Carrageenan Free
What We Didn’t Like:
- Nothing much
What is Carrageenan?
Carrageenan is a food additive extracted from red seaweed called Irish Moss. It is used in many human foods such as chocolate milk, ice cream and alternative dairy products.
Carrageenan is a stabilising and thickening agent used in most wet canned cat food. It is used in most cat food to improve the texture of the pet food without providing any nutritional value to pets.
It is thoroughly cooked to give it a gelatinous texture that gives wet cat food a smooth, creamy texture.
Carrageenan in Cat Food
Carrageenan is used in most commercial canned cat food to give it a smooth, creamy texture.
It is a cheaper and easier alternative to using real animal gelatin that is why most pet food companies use Carrageenan in their products even though it poses risk to cat’s health.
Why is Carrageenan Bad For Cats?
Even though pet food companies claim Carrageenan is safe for cats there are many studies that show it is correlated closely to many inflammatory diseases in cats.
Prolonged usage of Carrageenan can cause the following health issues in cats:
- Colitis
- Arthritis
- Irritable Bowel Disease
- Colon Cancer
- Decreased Immunity
Even though pet food companies claim it is safe, there are just too many studies that suggest it is not and when it comes to our cats, it is better to be safe than sorry. Especially when there are other much safer alternatives that are available for pet food companies to use.
All the foods we recommend are absolutely Carrageenan free and safe for your cats and provide the complete nutrition your cat needs to stay healthy and happy.
How To Identify Carrageenan in Cat Food?
Carrageenan has many names and pet food producers can use any of these names in their ingredient list. Sometimes pet food manufacturers will not even include this as an ingredient list on the product profile.
- Algas
- Algue Rouge Marine
- Carrageen
- Carageenan Gum
- Carrageenin
- Carragenina
- Carragheenan
- Chondrus crispus
- Chondrus Extract
- Danish Agar
- Euchema species
- Eucheuma Spinosum Gum
- Galgarine
- Irish Moss
- Irish Moss Algae
- Irish Moss Extract
- Marine Colloids
- Norsk Gelatin
- Processed Eucheuma Seaweed
- Red Marine Algae
- Red Seaweed Extract
- Vegetable Gelatin
If your cat food contains any of the above ingredients it is best to avoid the cat food and potentially the brand as well.
Buying Guide: How To Find the Best Cat Food Without Carrageenan?
When you are looking to buy cat food without Carrageenan, you need to ensure that the food is also good for your cats in terms of nutrition and doesn’t have any other bad ingredients for your cat.
High Protein, Moderate Fat And Low Carb Content
Cats require a high protein, moderate fat and low carb content diet to live a healthy and happy life.
Always choose cat food whose protein is derived from real meat ingredients not coming from by-products or by-meals because these are considered low quality proteins which can cause health issues in the long term for cats.
Protein from real meat is considered high quality and is best for cats.
Cats get most of their energy from fats and proteins but cat’s don’t require a very high amount of fat in their diet to thrive so look for moderate to low fat content food for your cat.
The only purpose of carbs is to provide energy and as cat’s can get energy from fats and proteins, cat’s do not require a high level of carbs in their daily diet.
Carb’s make up a very small part of a cat’s natural diet and hence the same should be for the food that you buy for them.
Make sure the food that you are buying for your cat is low in carbs. You can do this by ensuring that the food has low grain or no grain content as grains are full of carbs.
No Carrageenan
Carrageenan is a thickener used mostly in wet cat food to give food its creamy and smooth texture derived from red seaweed.
Carrageenan provides absolutely no nutritional value to cats and is just used to provide the food its texture.
Carrageenan has also been linked to a number of health issues in cats so it is best to avoid this ingredient, especially when there are much safer options available.
Easily Digestible
Look for whole grain or low starch vegetables in your cat food. These ingredients are easily digestible in your cat’s stomach and your cat also absorbs nutrients much quickly from these nutrients.
Avoid Artificial Ingredients
Artificial ingredients such as artificial colours, artificial preservatives and artificial flavours are all bad for your cat.
Check out the complete post on Bad Ingredients to Avoid in Your Cat’s Food.
List of Brands That Do Not Use Carrageenan in Their Products
Here is the list of brands that do not use Carrageenan in their products. It is still best to always check the ingredient list as the companies can change the formula any time and decide to add or remove some ingredients.
- Nature’s Logic
- Nature’s Variety Instinct
- Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet
- Blue Wilderness Wild Delights
- Blue Bistro
- Petcurean
- Avoderm Natural
- Kasiks
- Weruva
- Petropics
- Fromm Four Star Grain-Free
- Newman’s Own Organics Grain-Free
- Lotus
- Taste of the Wild
- Ziwi Peak
Our Verdict
Carrageenan free cat food is important to keep your cat healthy for a long time.
We recommend Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Cat Food as the best overall Carrageenan free cat food out there.
Always consult your veterinarian before changing your cat’s food to ensure it is well suited for them.
FAQ
Is Carrageenan Harmful to Cats?
According to academic sources, Carrageenan is harmful to cats as it causes inflammatory conditions such as IBD, Colon Cancer, Arthritis and Colitis.[1].
Does Purina Cat Food Contain Carrageenan?
Most Purina cat food is Carrageenan free but we cannot say with 100% guarantee that all of their Carrageenan free. Below are some of the Purina brands that are Carrageenan free.
- Friskies
- Fancy Feast
- Purina ONE
- Purina PRO PLAN
- Purina BEYOND
Please always read the ingredients carefully as brands can change the formula and can add or remove ingredients.
Why Do They Put Carrageenan in Cat Food?
Carrageenan is a thickener that is used to give wet cat food its smooth and creamy texture. Carrageenan also stops the wet food for being runny and watery.
Do Dry Foods Contain Carrageenan?
Generally, dry cat food does not contain Carrageenan. But you should always check the ingredient list to make sure there is no Carrageenan in your cat’s wet food.
What is the Best Cat Food Without Carrageenan?
Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Cat Food is the best Carrageenan free cat food that is free from any harmful and questionable ingredients and provides high quality nutrition to cats.
